W oodbridge Volume 5 ▪ Issue 51 ▪ Number 50
November LOOK INSIDE! Here’s a bit of what you’ll find:
Jean Kavale introduces four Woodbridge women involved in the book world in an homage to Book Lovers Day and a history of the Woodbridge library. See pages 10 and 11. Honor veterans for their service Wednesday, November 11. See Jack Dauler’s piece on Veterans Day, page 17. Thanksgiving is coming Thursday, November 26. On page 35, Mike Spence provides some “investigative journalism” on the topic of turkeys. See Bill Barnhart’s article recapping the 10/2 meeting regarding aluminum line-sets on page 25.
LIFE
Your Life. Your Community. Your News.
November ▪ 2015
Count Your Blessings Count your blessings instead of your crosses; Count your gains instead of your losses. Count your joys instead of your woes; Count your friends instead of your foes. Count your smiles instead of your tears; Count your courage instead of your fears. Count your full years instead of your lean; Count your kind deeds instead of your mean. Count your health instead of your wealth; Count on God instead of yourself. ~ Author Unknown
Sue Edmiston writes about the 55er's RV group’s four-week road trip on page 14.
Inside
Bedford and Hancock . . . 7 Bridge Scores . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Events and Tours . . . . . . . 8 Garden Tasks . . . . . . . . 19 Groups and Clubs . . . . . . 6 Where in the World . . . . . 38
READ WBL ONLINE : http://issuu.com/ woodbridgelife
Contact us:
WBLIFE2012@gmail.com
WBL photo by Volker Moerbitz.
Sixty-five men and women, most wearing pink, united in a community walk to raise awareness, honor breast cancer survivors and encourage donations in support of the American Cancer Society. Pink balloons were released at the conclusion of the walk, which for some symbolize a celebration of life and for others the release of grief or the lifting away of problems and pain. $1,539 was donated to the American Cancer Society.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
T
C
his is a special time of year during which we count our blessings. This month we celebrate a day of thanks with our families and close friends and we anticipate the coming of Christmas with all it signifies, traditionally and spiritually.
The Editorial Team enjoyed a visit from the Manteca Bulletin Executive Editor Dennis Wyatt at our September meeting. Dennis talked about many things in rapid-fire succession, including how reporters come up with story ideas, how they bring different viewpoints into their stories, and the importance of careful listening. He praised Woodbridge LIFE for reflecting its community and the Woodbridge community for being part of the fabric of Manteca. At the conclusion of our meeting, we celebrated Woodbridge LIFE’s fourth birthday and I presented a token of my appreciation to each team member.
Page 3 • November 2015
By Dodie Miller, Activities Director
By Carol Jo Hargreaves, WBL Editor
I am grateful to serve as the editor of this newspaper. I find satisfaction in putting my organizational and editorial skills to use and I enjoy working with a team of like-minded, communityspirited individuals dedicated to producing a high quality product each month.
From Dodie's Desk
From the Editor
When I count my many blessings, I am especially thankful for my husband and the opportunities we had to travel to new places this year. We enjoyed the unexpected beauty of Death Valley, the geologically fascinating parks of southern Utah, the striking vistas of San Juan Island, Washington, and the peace and quiet of central Oregon.
Carol Jo Hargreaves, WBL Editor dependability. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to the many writers not on the “official” team who regularly and faithfully submit valuable items for this newspaper. Thank you, Pamela Ciapessoni, Elizabeth Cunning, Roger Cunning, Jack Dauler, Penny Dauler, Marie Evans, Jon Ford, Charles Gary, Roger Gibson, Bob Hall, Debby Hickey, Butch Larson, Sandi Larson, Linda Little, Carla Marquardt, Birdie Nieri, Rommel Parseh, Paul Serpa, Don St. Lawrence and Marcia Umberger. Count your blessings! Is Woodbridge LIFE one of them? ~Carol Jo and the Woodbridge LIFE Team
I sincerely appreciate the members of the Woodbridge LIFE Editorial Team for their continuing creativity and
The deadline for submission of articles and photographs for the December 2015 edition of Woodbridge LIFE is Thursday, November 5, 2015. Please email your articles to wblife2012@gmail.com
an you believe we are already in the month of November with spooky Halloween just behind us and beginning two months of holiday events, family get-togethers and parties at which we come together in the spirit of camaraderie? It promises to be a special time of the year. Flu shots are coming our way the first of the month, so get there early – only 100 shots will be given. A first for Woodbridge is a harpist and vocalist team, Bronn and Katherine Journey, who will perform classical, folk and Broadway songs. Dodie Miller, WOA Activities Director The Senior Golf group with all their tournaments played at many golf courses such as Elkhorn Golf Club, Castle Oaks Golf Course, Micke Grove Golf Links, Dry Creek Ranch Golf Course, Manteca Golf Course and others will have a first year-end banquet and awards night. All those tournaments have brought a good number of neighbors and friends together in play. Good luck to all on your next year of play. Another feed is coming your way and this one has some of our groups and clubs making their best chili to be judged by Manteca firemen. Our local firemen and police officers like taking part in Woodbridge functions and we enjoy having them here as well. After the judging, everyone can have a bowl of chili and cornbread for $5.
See
DODIE page 5
Page 4 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
From the Bridge I
www.ourwoodbridge.net
WOA Update By Ramon Rivera
Holiday Decorations The winter “holiday season” is right around the corner. Winter holiday decorations may be displayed from November 15 through January 15. As a reminder, during non-winter holidays, decorations are allowed starting two weeks prior to and continuing until two weeks after a regularly recognized major holiday (e.g., Memorial Day, Fourth of July, etc.)
By Ramon Rivera
n the spirit of the holiday season and its being November, I have plenty of reasons to be thankful! I have my wife Kristie who supports me in everything I do. I am also very thankful for our little pug, Minka, because no matter what is happening around me, that little pug is always there to demonstrate her unconditional love. Family and the time we get to spend with them is something I am grateful for year round. I am blessed to have my family at home and fortunate to have another family here at Woodbridge. Being a part of this community is special. Words cannot explain how proud I am to represent Woodbridge and each one of you. I have had the opportunity in past articles to inform the community of changes, accomplishments and several other things. This month I want to recognize two women who have made great impacts on the community as well as on me. They are the dynamic duo of Irene McHenry and Bekke Hess. These women have demonstrated a work ethic beyond imagination and in doing so have motivated me to reach that same level. Irene is one of the hardest workers I have ever met. She is diligent, professional and always willing to take on tasks. Irene has been a long-standing member of the Property & Grounds Committee and I am very proud to have her as part of the team. I met Bekke Hess years ago when I was working for Pulte Homes as a janitorial contractor. We had several conversations back in those days and got to know each
Ramon Rivera, Operations Manager other. This foundation created an open relationship between Bekke and me that allows Bekke to respectfully bring issues to my attention others may feel uncomfortable doing. I truly appreciate Bekke’s insights and experience. Bekke has taken it upon herself to make a difference in the community by being a member of two committees, Architectural Review (ARC) and Property & Grounds. I have always felt that people are put in your path for a reason. I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by unparalleled knowledge and experience. Woodbridge has me on one heck of a ride and to be able to share this experience with people like Irene and Bekke makes my heart swell with happiness. There are many other residents who have made similar impacts and I do not intend to slight them in any way for their contributions. Look out; I may be mentioning you next!
�
Outdoor Pool and Spa to Close for Winter The outdoor pool and spa will close officially for the winter season November 2, 2015, and re-open again in May 2016. Along with this closure, the rear patio umbrellas and seat cushions will be stored away November 2, 2015. Golf Cart Safety Golf carts, street legal or not, are becoming a safety concern within the community. The WOA has received numerous reports of traffic violations and unsafe operation of golf carts. The safe operation of these vehicles is of the utmost importance. Children who are unlicensed drivers should not be allowed to operate any form of golf cart. Please obey all traffic laws and signs to ensure golf carts are being driven safely.
CHANGES AHEAD!
D
ue to the upcoming holidays, Woodbridge LIFE distribution dates will be changed as follows: The December 2015 edition will be distributed Friday, December 4. The January 2016 edition will be distributed Thursday, December 31.
DON’T FORGET! Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend (Sunday, November 1, at 2 a.m.) Set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed on Halloween.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
From the Boardroom
Woodbridge LIFE
By Roger Cunning, Vice President of the Woodbridge Owners Association Board of Directors
T
Page 5 • November 2015
The board considered approving a potential change to the Design Guidelines that would reflect appropriate landscaping guidelines in response to California’s drought. Following a 30-day review, several outstanding suggestions were offered that altered the proposed change enough to warrant another review period. Since the 30-day review process extends beyond the next scheduled board meeting in November, an emergency telephone meeting will occur once the required review is complete. That meeting will be properly “noticed” and will occur via a conference telephone call. Anyone wishing to be present will be welcome. The board realizes the significant importance of passing this change to the Design Guidelines and will do so, correctly. Woodbridge will very soon begin its transition away from developer-controlled leadership. That exact point in time is based on actual home closing dates. The rate of closures has significantly increased during the past several months. That means the entire process of transition will likely begin promptly in January 2016 if not a little before. More information will follow in future issues. The board of directors welcomes residents to attend their meetings. The next scheduled meeting is November 11, beginning at 4 p.m. The Emergency Telephone conference call board meeting referenced earlier in this article should occur sometime just before Thanksgiving. The date is subject to change but will be announced in advance.
he board of directors welcomed Mike Spence, new as a member, and Roger Cunning, returning for a second term. Both men spent the day following the Annual Membership Meeting immersed in required training as board members. Topics spanned legal issues of different types, review of governing documents, enforcement options, board members’ personal responsibilities, personnel requirements and procedures, payroll activities, fiscal requirements including use of reserve funds for real property maintenance, signing bank documents, communication responsibilities, liability awareness and preparedness, and other current issues. The 2015 Annual Membership Meeting revealed the results of the Revenue Ruling that occurred by secret ballot. WOA members voted to apply any excess funds in this year’s operating fund toward next year’s (2016) budget. The practical impact of this vote is somewhat complex but the most important point is that it allows our association to not pay income tax on those excess funds. Voting against it would have resulted in additional Meeting costs to our association. Policy & Procedures Committee Meeting Architectural Review Meeting From page 3 Board of Directors Exec. Meeting Board of Directors Meeting The Artists and Crafters club is hosting New Resident Orientation its yearly boutique, displaying many of their handmade items, including a bake Property & Grounds Committee Meeting sale. Their Bistro will be serving soup, Listening Post bread and dessert for $5. There’s more Finance Committee Meeting information elsewhere in this edition of the paper. Architectural Review Meeting
WOA Committee Meetings
DODIE
The Men of Woodbridge group is working on its yearly Thanksgiving breakfast. Breakfast will be served to you so you don’t have to do the cooking. Enjoy! November’s potluck will be the last for 2015. Although there will be no potluck in December, December will bring the Woodbridge Singers Christmas Concert, the Strummin’ Wonders Ukulele Christmas Concert, a Christmas Cheese Tasting Buffet, Christmas Dinner and Dance, Holiday Homes Tour, Doctors Hospital Christmas Social and a Christmas Golf Cart Parade and Caroling. HERE’S TO ALL THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY!
Day
Date
Time
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday Wednesday Tuesday
11/9/15 11/10/15 11/11/15 11/11/15 11/12/15 11/12/15 11/13/15 11/18/15 11/24/15
2 p.m. 9 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 4 p.m. 10 a.m. 3:15 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 9 a.m.
Page 6 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
Bocce Ball Bridge Bunco Bunco-also contact Chair Volleyball Cooking 401 Crochet/Knitting Cribbage Drama Game Night Game Night-also contact Hand & Foot Line Dancing Line Dancing (Evening) Men of Woodbridge Neighborhood Watch Paddle Tennis Pickleball Pinochle
Contact Nedra Ball Patti Barnhart
Phone Meeting Day And Time 815-9309 M-F. Time & Workshops vary 629-8838 Thursdays @ 4:15 p.m. SU @ 6 p.m., TH @ 8 a.m. - Effective Oct 11, SU @ 2 p.m. and effective Oct 15, Rick Hyden 824-9257 TH 10 a.m. Don St. Lawrence 825-7137 Mondays @ 10 a.m. Mary Braun 239-0409 3rd Monday @ 6:30 p.m. Susan Russitano 275-5817 3rd Monday @ 6:30 p.m. Various Mondays and Jacquie Steffy 825-4805 Tuesdays. Jan Spence 924-8032 3rd Tuesday @ 2 p.m. Renée St. Lawrence 825-7137 Thursdays @ 10 a.m. Dave Steffy 825-4805 Tuesdays @ 7 p.m. Dona Eberhardt 629-8069 Thursdays @ 12:30 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays @ 6:30 Pat Buxton 239-8663 p.m. Rick Hyden Ruth Field Patti Barnhart Bill Goodwin Bill Goodwin Bob Hall Stan Sutfin Bob Hall
Robert Philis Al Sanchez Poker Joe Victoria Radio Controlled Flyers Bob Umberger Renée St. LawReaders’ Group rence Second Chance Band John Green Senior Golf Chuck Gary Silver Sluggers Softball Butch Larson Social Bridge Jeanne Thomas Strummin’ Wonders Carla Marquardt Tennis Mel Topping Trivia Eileen Hill Veterans Jack Dauler Walking Indoors Jacque Reynolds Wheels of Woodbridge Bill Barnhart Wine 101 Jon Ford Women of Woodbridge Birdie Nieri Woodbridge Singers
824-9257 Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m. W-SA-SU @ 1 p.m. 229-6977 Thursdays @ 7 p.m. 629-8838 M-W-F @ 9:15 a.m. 823-9767 Fridays @ 6 p.m. 823-9767 2nd Monday @ 10 a.m. 239-5712 Patrols 815-9735 Mondays @ 6 p.m. 239-5712 M-F. Time varies 510-909- M @ 2:15 p.m. & TH @ 1 8997 p.m. 239-8235 Wed @ 1:30 p.m. & Fri @ 815-9343 5:30 p.m. 239-2983 Days and times vary 825-7137 239-5256 834-6795 824-2062 239-5712 624-3754 239-8718 624-3945 629-8575 629-8508 629-8838 815-9803
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Non-WOA Sanctioned Clubs:
WOA Groups and Clubs: Groups & Clubs Artists & Crafters Ballroom Dance
1st Wed @ 10:30 a.m. Days and times vary Various golf courses Seasonal TH @ 10 a.m. Mondays @ 2:15 p.m. SU - TU - TH @ 8:30 a.m. 3rd Tuesday @ 7 p.m. 2nd Monday @ 4 p.m. M-W-F @ 8:30 a.m. 1st Tuesday @ 10:45 a.m. Days vary
624-3779 3rd Wed @ 11 a.m. Every other Monday @ 7 Elizabeth Cunning 647-4380 p.m.
Club Christian Men's Fellowship 55er's RV Group "Just Fore Fun" Ladies' Golf Red Hat Ladies Senior Bowling Women's Bible Study
Contact Dave Basehore Sue Edmiston Betty Buff Claudia Watkins Barbara Silva Carolyn Johnson
Phone 923-4905 601-9210 479-3568 823-8678 824-0262 239-0936
Please refer to www.ourwoodbridge.net for more detailed information
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Reaching Out Lakeview Clubhouse: 824-7581
Board of Directors
John Johnson, President Roger Cunning, Vice President Christine Carlson, Treasurer Carl Hansen, Director at Large Mike Spence
www.ourwoodbridge.net PUBLISHER
WOA
ADVERTISING
495-6803
Activities Director
Dodie Miller:
Lifestyle Manager
Erika Smith:
824-7927 824-7581
Management
Riverside Management PO BOX 697 Roseville, CA 9566 916-740-2462
The opinions expressed in
Woodbridge LIFE’s feature
articles, paid advertisements and editorial content do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper or the Woodbridge Owners Association.
WOODBRIDGE LIFE MISSION STATEMENT: “Woodbridge LIFE is a celebration of the diversified residents of Woodbridge by Del Webb in Manteca – a look at their accomplishments, an exploration of their hopes and dreams, a place to share joy, announce activities and bring neighbors together. Woodbridge LIFE strives to enhance the lives of all residents and exceed expectations with informative articles, lively features, a calendar of events and more.”
Page 7 • November 2015
209-824-7581
Operations Manager
2401 Morning Brook Drive Manteca, CA 95336
EDITOR
Ramon Rivera:
Woodbridge LIFE
Homeowner Directors
Roger: 647-4380 / Mike: 924-8032
Woodbridge LIFE
Carol Jo Hargreaves
824-7581
823-3538
Erika Smith
WBL EDITORIAL TEAM Bill Barnhart Sharyl Burgeson, asst. editor Carol Jo Hargreaves, chair Jean Kavale Ann King Dreanna Langdon Judy McNamara Dodie Miller Volker Moerbitz Pepper Noble Ramon Rivera Erika Smith Mike Spence
824-7581 629-8838 239-1492 823-3538 629-8571 650-464-0151 613-3551 923-4718 824-7927 239-7965 239-1933 495-6803 824-7581 924-8032
Woodbridge LIFE is a free monthly publication of the Woodbridge Owners Association, a nonprofit organization serving the residents of the Woodbridge by Del Webb community in Manteca, CA. Woodbridge LIFE invites stories, photographs, comments, cartoons, jokes and any other information that would be of interest to residents. We reserve the right to accept or refuse submissions and edit for content and length. We also reserve the right to refuse advertising or articles that in our opinion do not reflect the standards of the newspaper. The opinions expressed, whether by paid advertisement or editorial content, do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper or the Woodbridge Owners Association. Content submitted may be edited, reprinted and acknowledged without consent unless specifically requested. Woodbridge LIFE proofreaders use the Associated Press Stylebook, “the journalist’s bible,” as a writing and editing reference. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork. Materials submitted with a self-addressed, stamped envelope will be returned. Contents copyright © 2015 by Woodbridge Owners Association. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.
Contact us:
WBLIFE2012@gmail.com
In Memoriam In tribute to a loved one who has died, Woodbridge LIFE welcomes residents to submit up to 100 words and a 2-inch x 2-inch photo (optional) for publication. Send submissions by email to wblife2012@gmail.com.
Page 8 • November 2015
Woodbridge Owners Association Committees ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW • Carl Hansen, Chair carl.hansen@pultegroup.com 925-249-3213 FINANCE • April Oakland, Chair april@riversidemgmt.com LIFESTYLE • Dodie Miller, Chair millerdodie@gmail.com 824-7927 POLICY & PROCEDURES • Chuck Gary, Chair cgaryjr@sbcglobal.net 834-6795 PROPERTY & GROUNDS • Ramon Rivera, Chair rrivera@ourwoodbridge.net 495-6803 COMMUNICATION • Carol Jo Hargreaves, Chair, Woodbridge LIFE Editor and Directory Chair cjohargreaves@gmail.com 823-3538 WELCOMING COMMITTEE • Diana Clements, Co-Chair tenor4@comcast.net 665-4353 •
Jeanne Tebbutt, Co-Chair jltebbutt@gmail.com 923-4356 NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
• Bill Barnhart bill.barnhart@mrbconsulting.us 629-8838
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Coming to Woodbridge EVENTS and TOURS - November 2015 By Dodie Miller, Activities Director FLU SHOTS – Tuesday, November 3 @ 10 a.m. –Staff members of Doctors Hospital of Manteca will give FREE flu shots to the first 100 residents. BRONN & KATHERINE JOURNEY – Tuesday, November 3 @ 2 p.m. – A harpist and a vocalist will perform classic, folk and Broadway songs. Tickets are $5 per person. WINE 101 BUS TRIP – Wednesday, November 4 @ 9:45 a.m. - Wine tasting bus trip to Lodi wineries. FULL. SENIOR GOLF GROUP BANQUET – Wednesday, November 4 @ 5:30 p.m. This is the end of the year banquet and awards night for the golfers. Awards will be presented after dinner. Notification has gone out to all participants. WESSON HEARING PRESENTATION Thursday, November 5 @ 5:30 p.m. “Eat, Drink & Be Thankful for Hearing Health” is the theme for Wesson’s presentation. There will be snacks, wine and a raffle. Sign up at the front desk. A DAY AT THE RACES – Saturday, November 7 @ 10:30 a.m. – Enjoy the Turf Club’s elegant buffet luncheon at Golden Gate Fields with an unobstructed panoramic view of the action as well as the Berkeley Hills. This event is through Setness Tours. There is a waiting list. DECADES BAND – Saturday, November 7 @ 7 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30) – This group of five goodlooking, young, vibrant stars just bursting with talent is amazing. The first song will have everybody on
Important Notice About Cancellations
the dance floor. You may bring your beverage of choice. If you haven’t heard this group before, you’re in for a really upbeat evening. Tickets are $15 per person. FULL. DOCTORS HOSPITAL HEALTHCARE FORUM – Thursday, November 12 @ 9:30 a.m. - Dr. Harpreet Parmar, cardiologist, will speak on heart health. Sign up at the front desk so we can arrange ample seating. CHILI & CORNBREAD FEED – Thursday, November 12 @ 5:30 p.m. – Our groups and clubs have volunteered to make their best chili to be judged by Manteca firemen. After the judging, everyone will be able to sample the chili and cornbread. You may bring your beverage of choice. Tickets are $5 per person. HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE – Saturday, November 14 @ 10 a.m. – The boutique will feature 25 crafters selling handmade items. The Bistro will serve soup, bread and dessert for only $5. POINSETTIAS & MORE – Wednesday, November 18 @ 9 a.m. – Visit the “Sea of Poinsettias” at Duarte Nursery. Food samplings and shopping stops will be made at Blue Diamond almonds, Sciabica California Olive Oil and Classic Wine Vinegar Company. Lunch is at the Fruit Yard restaurant. Cost is $109 and reservations must be made through Setness Tours @ 209 476-8486.
what you bring feeds eight to 10 people. Coffee and water will be provided, and you may also bring your beverage of choice. Sign up at the front desk so we have enough seating for everyone. WOODBRIDGE CLUBHOUSE IS CLOSED ON THANKSGIVING DAY – Thursday, November 26 THANKSGIVING BREAKFAST – Saturday, November 28 @ 9 a.m. The Men of Woodbridge group is putting on a delicious breakfast over the Thanksgiving weekend. Tickets are $7 per person. WOODBRIDGE SINGERS CHRISTMAS CONCERT – Monday, November 30 @ 6:30 p.m. – This is the Singers’ “WINTER EXTRAVAGANZA.” You will hear songs like "Santa Baby," "The Twelve Days of Christmas," etc., with a special guest appearance by Lynn Sampson, trumpet player, vocalist and actor. There will be additional performances on December 1 @ 2 & 6:30 p.m. A reception table with desserts and coffee will be provided after each concert. This event is FREE.
POTLUCK NIGHT – Tuesday, November 24 @ 5:30 p.m. - This is an open potluck so bring either a casserole, vegetable dish, salad or dessert but please be sure
When you have signed up for an event, activity or tour and you find you are unable to attend, please, as a courtesy to others, call the Clubhouse front desk (824-7581) to cancel. If the event has a waiting list, the front desk can fill the vacancy from the list. Thank you.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
November Activities Sunday 1
8
Monday
2
Woodbridge LIFE
Page 9 • November 2015
Winter Clubhouse Hours (9/1 through 4/30) Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
6
Saturday
3
4
5
7
10 a.m. – Free Flu Shots by
9:45 a.m. – Wine 101 Bus
5:30 p.m. – Wesson
10:30 a.m. – A Day at the
Doctors Hospital
Trip
Hearing Presentation
Races (Setness Tours)
2 p.m. – Bronn & Katherine
5:30 p.m. – Senior Golf
Journey
Banquet
9
10
11
12
13
14
2 p.m. – Policy &
9 a.m. – Architectural
1:30 p.m. – Board of
9:30 a.m. – Healthcare
1 p.m. – Listening Post
10 a.m. – Holiday Boutique
Procedures Committee Mtg
Review Meeting
Directors Executive Mtg
Forum on Heart Health
4 p.m. – Board of Directors
10 a.m. – New Resident
Meeting
Orientation
20
21
27
28
7 p.m. – Decades Band (doors open at 6:30)
3:15 p.m. – Property & Grounds Committee Mtg 5:30 p.m. – Chili & Cornbread Feed
15
22
16
17
23
24
18
19
9 a.m. – Poinsettias & More
6 p.m. – Annual Community
(Setness Tours)
Neighborhood Watch Mtg
25
26
9 a.m. – Architectural
9 a.m. – Thanksgiving
THANKSGIVING DAY
Review Mtg
Breakfast
Clubhouse Closed
5:30 p.m. – Potluck Night
29
30 6:30 p.m. – Woodbridge Singers Christmas Concert
► Events and activities are listed on page 8.
More information about these as well as Woodbridge Clubs and Groups may be found on the Woodbridge portal and at the Lakeview Clubhouse. This calendar was last updated 10/26/15. Refer to flyers or the Woodbridge portal for additional information.
s t n e v E g n i Com
As a courtesy to Woodbridge residents, we are providing the following event information to assist in planning and obtaining tickets. Please note: This information is subject to change. Contact the Clubhouse front desk if you have questions.
Name of Event
Woodbridge Singers Christmas Concert
Event Date
Purchase Tickets Starting:
11/30 & 12/1/2015
No Ticket
Christmas Tea (Setness Tours)
12/3/15
Call now
Christmas Cheese Tasting Buffet
12/3/15
11/5/15
Christmas Dinner & Dance
12/8/15
11/13/15
Holiday Homes Tour
12/12/15
11/12/15
Second Chance Band Dance
12/12/15
No Ticket
Doctors Hospital Christmas Wine & Cheese Social
12/16/15
No Ticket
Page 10 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
A DAY TO LOVE BOOKS By Jean Kavale
B
elieve it or not, there are two days each year that honor the reading of books, and both are called Book Lovers Day. If you didn’t celebrate the first one on August 6, you’ll have another chance to do so on November 7 when the second one arrives. The origin of the day is unknown, but its purpose is to encourage the reading and appreciation of good books. Many Americans lead such busy lives that they don’t devote enough time for this relaxing pursuit. Judging from the fast rate at which books are borrowed from our Clubhouse library, many Woodbridge residents are enthusiastic and frequent pursuers of the written word. I interviewed two of them for this article. Renée St. Lawrence, a former teacher who moved to Woodbridge with husband Don in 2007, has loved books ever since second grade: “If you finished your work early, as I always did, you could choose a book from the classroom library. I read all the Wizard of Oz books that way.” At home, Renée found several hiding places where she could read without being scolded by her mother for reading too much. “My favorite was up a peach tree clear in the back of the yard,” she said. Renée was instrumental in establishing the first book club at Woodbridge, now
www.ourwoodbridge.net
known as the Readers’ Group. At book club meetings new members are introduced and welcomed. The discussion leader then gives a brief biography of the selected book’s author and expresses his or her opinion of the book. Next, attendees state their opinions until all have had a chance to speak. Many choose to read quotes from the book to illustrate their point of view. Members get their books from such sources as the library, Amazon and Kindle. A current list of books the group is reading is always posted on the Woodbridge portal, located in the Discussion Group section under Book Group. Claire Cronin was inspired to read books by an aunt who gave her fairy tales, such as Little Red Riding Hood and other children’s books as gifts. “When I was old enough to walk to the local library, I read everything the librarian recommended,” she said. In adulthood, she worked as a library assistant for 30 years, first in Tracy and then in Stockton. Ironically she had little time to read in those days – she was raising three daughters at home; at work, she was helping other people find and select books to read. Now retired and living in Woodbridge since 2008, Claire makes up for lost time by often reading three or four books a week. “I enjoy all categories except most of the mysteries, because so many are filled with gore and guns,” she said. Claire either borrows books from our library or exchanges them with her daughter, who lives relatively nearby. The Book Exchange on North Main Street and thrift stores are two places where she buys books. Books, or facsimiles thereof, have been around for a long time. People in ancient civilizations wrote on such things as clay tablets, papyrus and even tree bark. An important milestone occurred during the second century in China, when paper was invented, but the only way to duplicate a book was to copy it onto paper by hand. Because this was a slow process, books were expensive and rare. Fortunately, the method for producing books changed radically in the mid-fifteenth century, when the first movable-type printing press appeared on the scene. We can thank its inventor, Johannes Gutenberg, for that revolutionary way to print books. It led to their proliferation first in Europe, then throughout the world, and eventually into American libraries, such as Woodbridge. May you have a happy Book Lovers Day!
POTLUCK NIGHT TUESDAYS 2015 NOVEMBER 24 - OPEN POTLUCK NO POTLUCK IN DECEMBER
POTLUCK NIGHT TUESDAYS 2016 JANUARY 26 - OPEN POTLUCK FEBRUARY 23 - OPEN POTLUCK MARCH 29 - OPEN POTLUCK
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
HOW THE WOODBRIDGE LIBRARY BEGAN By Jean Kavale
O
Page 11 • November 2015
Sharon donated at least 200 books to the library. “The beginning was such an exciting time,” she said, adding how thankful she is for the friends she made while working there.
ur beautiful Woodbridge library has an extensive collection of nonfiction and fiction books. We are also fortunate that it contains many books in both paperback and hardcover formats. This article describes two people who have been instrumental in getting our library started and keeping it capably maintained through the years.
The new Clubhouse library grew like wildfire as more people began moving to Woodbridge and donating books. Unfortunately, Sharon needed to spend more time at home because of husband Dave’s health issues. She therefore asked people to assist her, one of whom was Jacque Reynolds. “Jacque was doing such a good job helping me and had a passion for the library. I was thankful when she offered to take over the librarian job,” said Sharon.
“I have always loved reading books and visiting libraries,” Sharon Bayer told me emphatically. She and husband Dave moved to Woodbridge in December 2006, so they were among its first residents. Sharon, an experienced volunteer, had been volunteering at the library in her children’s grade school and looked forward to doing the same kind of work here. There was one problem, however. The Clubhouse was in a trailer and had no library. Undaunted, Sharon asked then-director Lee Hicks if she could start a library and was delighted when he said yes.
After Jacque and husband Bill moved to Woodbridge in 2007, she was glad to assist Sharon and especially happy to accept the librarian job from her in 2011. When I asked her what she likes best about it, she said: “The people. You would be surprised how much I am thanked.” I’m not at all surprised, though. Jacque previously managed a doctor’s office and is an excellent organizer. What’s more, she enjoys doing it. “It’s not work for me,” she explained. After she places each returned book on the shelf where it belongs, the shelves look as neat as pins.
It didn’t take long for Sharon to go to work. She located two bookcases that were already in the trailer and then added two more that she no longer wanted from her home. “All I had to do was add a couple more shelves to them,” she said. Additionally, she brought over many books for which there was no room in her home. Because new people were moving to Woodbridge and bringing books to the trailer, her friend Arlene Fagala helped her move everything to the Clubhouse when it was ready.
Raising three boys didn’t give Jacque as much time for reading books as she would have liked. Her love of reading intensified, however, when she was recuperating from major surgery and had time to read many good books. At Woodbridge she especially likes to read mysteries, such as those by James Patterson and J.D. Robb. Sharon and Jacque, I’m so grateful for the great work you’ve done over the years. I’m sure that readers of books from our library are also very grateful. Many thanks to you both!
Page 12 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
At the Clubhouse
Arts
BRIDGE
ARTISTS & CRAFTERS The Holidays Are Upon Us
By Don St. Lawrence
The Bridge group meets Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Oxford Room.
Bridge Scores SEP 28:
Grace Pasion Don St. Lawrence Phyllis Tindell Kathy Comden Robi Cornelius Lee Stern Cherie Ford Letha Watson Betty Buff Barbara Kreps Don Harris Marilyn Larson
OCT 5:
Grace Pasion Phil McCallion Cherie Ford Don Harris Letha Watson Marilyn Larson Betty Buff Don St. Lawrence Phyllis Tindell Lee Stern Robi Cornelius
OCT 12:
Phil McCallion Betty Buff Cherie Ford Don Harris Marilyn Larson Lee Stern
4380 4160 4150 3720 3630 3590 3570 3430 3310 2960 2730 1330 5130 4180 3750 3390 3180 2890 2860 2540 2380 2120 1940 4310 4300 4000 3140 2570 2540
By Penny Dauler
Shirley Lopes Don St. Lawrence Barbara Kreps Phyllis Tindell
OCT 19:
Phil McCallion Don Harris Marilyn Larson Robi Cornelius Lee Stern Shirley Lopes Betty Buff Letha Watson Phyllis Tindell Cherie Ford Grace Pasion Don St. Lawrence Barbara Kreps David Lopes
OCT 26:
Letha Watson Betty Buff Phyllis Tindell Barbara Kreps Lee Stern Phil McCallion Don Harris Robi Cornelius Marilyn Larson Don St. Lawrence
2520 2470 2400 2010 5610 4280 3930 3590 3490 3450 3030 2750 2560 2540 2540 2210 2030 1960 7330 5560 5190 3930 3510 3070 2890 2660 2330 1960
N
ovember is here and members of the Artists and Crafters group are slowing down just a tad before all of us gear up for the holidays. Our regular classes and workshops are scheduled and we have thrown in a couple of special events. On Tuesday, November 3, the oil painters will be holding an all-day class. Those involved with the Holiday Boutique may start to set up at 5 p.m., Friday, November 13. The boutique opens its doors at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 14. Doodlebugs will NOT be doodling this month but the watercolorists will be meeting Friday, November 6, to paint “Waterfall Over the Rocks.” An ‘Out and About’ to a quilt show in Stockton is planned for Sunday, November 8. Please sign up so we know how many drivers will be needed. We will leave from the Clubhouse at 10 a.m. The show costs $7 and WE always go to lunch, so plan accordingly. Take a deep breath, a sip of wine or coffee, read the rest of this paper and get ready for the holidays.
The Holiday Boutique Is Here! By Penny Dauler
T
he doors open at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 14. The Multipurpose Room will be humming with activity as the 20+ vendors busily sell their unique homemade crafts. We will have everything from jewelry, wooden bowls and wood etchings to aprons, porcelain ornaments and much more. New this year will be our “Bistro” set up in the Oxford Room. Those doors will open at 11 a.m. and close at 2 p.m. For only $5, you will get your choice of soups plus bread and dessert. At the same time, the bake, jam and jellies sale will be going on in the Westport Room. Please bring small bills, as you will be paying each vendor individually, not through a main cash register. It’s time to shop for Christmas! Be sure to come by the Holiday Boutique.
WOODBRIDGE READERS' GROUP By Marie Evans
H
elen Navarro led the group in discussion of the book she suggested, The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. A warm welcome to Trissa and Margo – we enjoyed your input. Interestingly, Death is the narrator and since Mr. Zusak
&
set his novel in Nazi Germany during WWII, it seemed appropriate. A common theme in our discussion was the importance of words in the novel – the 'use of words' by "Der Führer" to conquer his See
READERS page 13
www.ourwoodbridge.net From
Woodbridge LIFE
READERS page 12
country and bend it to his will as well as other uses the characters found for words – words to comfort, words to frighten and words to obscure the truth of their uneasy existence. Although a war story, it is also a story of the many faces of love and centers on a small neighborhood in a small town outside of Munich, the inhabitants of a few blocks of a street called Himmel and, within that small space, the little family that took in a foster daughter and loved her as if she were their own. Mr. Zusak has a wonderful way with words and is an expert at drawing a picture of his characters – not so much a physical picture as a picture of their soul – souls that would one day be carried away by the narrator, Death. Characters given life within the covers of this book included Liesel and her foster mother and father as well as various neighbors. The author drew his characters well and with great sympathy, which was much appreciated by our readers. The story was based on tales the author’s parents told about growing up in Germany and Austria during WWII. Our next meeting will be at the Clubhouse as usual, 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 4. The book for discussion is Invention Of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. Everyone in Woodbridge is welcome. Later in the year, we will be placing flyers in the Clubhouse listing the books for discussion in 2016. We try to stick to our schedule because some readers like to get their books early so they have plenty of time to read before our discussion.
WOODBRIGE SINGERS Winter Extravaganza! By Elizabeth Cunning
W
oodbridge Singers and Dancers have partnered together to create a holiday celebration like none that has been done before! Our own Woodbridge residents are singing, dancing and sharing humor along the way to get you in that holiday frame of mind. Here is a “sneak peek” at a few highlights – and there’s more! “Santa Baby” Featuring Donna Ybarra, Carole Pfoutz, Paul Bowers, Shirley Reynolds, Claudia Reed and Irma Lewis “Holiday Dinner Party – Rudolph Parody” Featuring Kathy Dezotte and Shirley Lopes “Twelve Days of Christmas – Senior Style” Featuring Jacquie and Dave Steffy
The grand finale is a rousing rendition of the “Hallelujah Chorus” with guest trumpeter, Lynn Sampson. Lynn is an accomplished musician, actor, writer, vocalist and music teacher. He performs in orchestras and jazz ensembles and serves as Arts Editor for the Modesto Valley Views Magazine. Your choice of THREE performances: Monday, November 30 @ 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 1 @ 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 1 @ 6:30 p.m. Please RSVP at the Clubhouse front desk. There is no admission fee – it’s our gift to you! You may bring a dessert to share after the concert.
♫♪♫♫♪♫♪♪
Page 13 • November 2015
Page 14 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
WOODBRIDGE 55ER'S RV GROUP By Sue Edmiston
S
even years ago, a small group of Woodbridge RV owners came together under the leadership of Kathy and Orland Dodson to create the Woodbridge 55ers. Their goal was to organize about six weekend outings a year to RV parks within a few hours’ drive of Manteca. Since that time, our group has to grown to 30 RVs. Not only have we traveled in California but also in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Washington and Oregon. Our first extended trip was two years ago to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico. Nine rigs set out on our first adventure along Route 66. This was the year, however, the federal government shut down and our plans had to be flexible. The Grand Canyon was closed so we spent some time in Williams and Sedona, Arizona, before reaching Albuquerque. We spent several days at the fiesta enjoying the most beautiful and amazing hot air balloons, some landing right among our RVs. Last year, we ventured to St. George, Utah, to watch Marcia and Bob Umberger, Pat Fidler and Dick Juarez play pickleball at the Huntsman World Senior Games. We again had nine rigs on this adventure. Before arriving at the games, many of us stopped along the way at Zion National Park where we hiked the Narrows River Walk. That was an unforgettable experience. We also took in the sights at Bryce Canyon, one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen. We then arrived at St. George to cheer on our Woodbridge pickleball players. We had the largest and loudest cheering section there! This year we decided to take our travels even further – to Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park and Little Big Horn. This was going to be our longest and furthest trip. We again had nine rigs, eight from our Woodbridge group and one driven by a couple from Oregon. After making our way through Nevada, we arrived in Victor, Idaho, where our sightseeing began. We visited (and shopped in) Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and enjoyed a leisurely dinner rafting trip down the Snake River. At Teton National Park, we had a 12-minute tram ride to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. What a beautiful panoramic view at 10,450 feet.
Photo contributed.
55er's RV Group members gathered after a raft trip down the Snake River. Front row: Marcia Lara, Debbie Machado, Pat Fidler, Rex Edmiston, Jan Blasquez, Bonnie Redding (Sue's sister), Michelle and Chuck DeLore (Oregon friends). Back row: Mike Machado, Rudy Lara, Sue Edmiston and Pete Blasquez. Our next stop was Yellowstone National Park. Old Faithful, the geysers and waterfalls are always amazing. Couple that with the wildlife and you have a wonderful experience. We saw lots of antelope and bison but, thankfully, no bears. The bison don’t hesitate to take over the road, walking down the centerline and crossing in front of vehicles. The Buffalo Bill Center of the Wild West is a must see in Cody, Wyoming. This museum consists of five sections: Buffalo Bill, Plains Indians, Western Art, Natural History and Firearms. You could spend a couple of days seeing everything. Some of the group enjoyed themselves at an evening rodeo. Little Big Horn in Garryowen, Montana, was a very moving experience. As you stand on the hill, you try to imagine what it was like as Custer and his men battled the Indians. Throughout the park are grave markers where each soldier fell. There is a mass grave where many were buried under a marker with the names of all who lost their lives. There are also grave markers where some of the Cheyenne and Sioux died. On our drive to Glacier National Park, the smoke from the fires all over the west was everywhere. It was pretty thick and you could even smell it at times. At one point, as we were driving along the outside of the park, we had to be led for about seven miles by a pilot car. We also saw a helicopter scooping water out of one of the lakes to fight the fire.
Photo by Sue Edmiston.
A bison walked right next to our truck.
The group decided to take the Red Bus Tour in Glacier National Park. The Going-to-the-Sun Road is a beautiful but scary drive up the mountain on a very narrow road that contains many hairpin turns and steep cliffs. The only way to really enjoy viewing the beauty is to allow See
RV page 33
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
Page 15 • November 2015
Page 16 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
Household Hints
www.ourwoodbridge.net
remove the padlocks to shut off electricity in an emergency.
Article and photos by Bill Barnhart
• Install a sliding bolt on your gate. It is a strong deterrent and will extend the life of your gate.
Do You Feel Secure In Your Home?
• Replace deadbolt latch plates with 3-inch screws to anchor into the stud behind the door facing. There are also single piece latch plates made tall enough to cover both the door knob latch hole and the deadbolt hole.
What are the things home burglars most dislike and that might cause them to have second thoughts about entering your home?
• Add a wrap around the plate where the door knob and the deadbolt go through the door. Bill Barnhart
Someone Home: • Leave lights on inside the house, one in the front and one in the back. Put lights on a dimmer with CFL or LED bulbs for energy efficiency. • Leave a TV on outside the direct view of a window. The flickering TV light gives the impression of someone being home.
• Use PVC pipe, dowels, old closet rods or something that limits how far a window can be opened when you sleep with your windows open at night. (If you still want to set your house alarm, you will need to have the alarm company install extra magnets on the window frame, spaced to allow the window to be open.)
If all residents actively make it difficult for would-be burglars, they will get discouraged and not try something in Woodbridge.
• Programmable light switches can be set to come on and go off at different times each day. They work well for both interior and exterior lights. • Do not open the door unless you are sure you know the person outside. It is not discourteous to talk to someone through a closed door if you cannot identify who it is. • If you have a security front screen door, always lock it when you leave the regular front door open.
Loud Noise: • Install a siren outside the garage that goes off if your alarm is tripped. This is about the best possible way to drive off a burglar. The little alarm inside your home can only be heard inside the house. If you’re not home, your neighbors have no way of knowing someone may be breaking into your house. • Mount a pressure sensitive switch inside the siren or any other cover on the side of the house to set off the alarm if the cover is removed.
Lighted Area: • Turn on your front lights at night. This is a big deterrent, especially if all the neighbors on your block do it. • A programmable light switch is an excellent solution if your lights are not controlled by a photocell. • Install solar powered spot lights with motion detectors on the sides and/or back of your home as a deterrent. They must be pointed down toward your own yard and not over the fence.
Making it Difficult: • PG&E strongly suggests putting padlocks on your circuit breaker panel and the smaller door to the left of the meter that already has the PG&E seal on it to prevent the circuit panel’s being opened or the master circuit breaker being tripped. In the event of a fire, PG&E advises the fire crew will have a set of bolt cutters with them and can easily
Photo by Bill Barnhart.
Circuit breaker panel and smaller door to the left with padlocks.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
VETERANS OF WOODBRIDGE Veterans Day By Jack Dauler
M
any Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day America sets aside to honor American military personnel who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained from combat. That's not quite true. Memorial Day is the day set aside to honor America's war dead. Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors ALL American veterans, both living and dead. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for dedicated and loyal service to their country. November 11 of each year is the day that we ensure veterans know we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they have made in their lives to keep our country free.
Flyer developed and distributed by the Woodbridge Lifestyle Committee.
In 1947, Raymond Weeks of Birmingham, Alabama, organized a "Veterans Day" parade on November 11 to honor all of America's
Page 17 • November 2015
veterans for their loyal and dedicated service. Shortly thereafter, Congressman Edward H. Rees (Kansas) introduced legislation to change the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day in order to honor all veterans who have served the United States in all wars. In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day and called upon Americans everywhere to rededicate themselves to the cause of peace. He issued a Presidential Order directing the head of the Veterans Administration (now called the Department of Veterans Affairs) to form a Veterans Day National Committee to organize and oversee the national observance of Veterans Day. Congress passed legislation in 1968 to move Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. As it became apparent that November 11 was historically significant to many Americans, however, in 1978, Congress reversed itself and returned the holiday to its traditional date. Veterans Day is commemorated every year on November 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls, to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany or the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at 11 o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.
Page 18 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
Garden Tasks for November
A
Page 19 • November 2015
Sonoma County Resource Conservation District, in cooperation with numerous other Bay Area agencies and organizations, has published a guide for steps you can take to help manage storm water. You can find the guide – “Slow it. Spread it. Sink it! A Homeowner’s and Landowner’s guide to Beneficial Stormwater Management” – at http//www.sscrcd.org/rainwater.php. This guide will show you ways to save rainwater rather than flush it down the storm drains as well as many other helpful hints to handle the potential rains.
Article and photos by Sandi Larson, Master Gardener
ren’t you glad that our heat has finally subdued? It was a warmer summer than usual and most of us have plants that have been struggling, thanks to our drought conditions/water restrictions.
Sandi Larson
Speaking of drought. It isn’t over yet, but the predictions of an El Niño are looking better every day. We are hearing that the water in the Pacific is two degrees higher now than the average temperatures for the last 30 years. The warmer water can be a precursor of an El Niño year. El Niño means that from Northern California through much of the southwestern states, we will have much more precipitation than average and the Northwest will likely have less precipitation than average. “There is a greater than 90 percent chance it will last into early spring 2016,” the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration has stated of the El Niño prediction. There are a few things you can do to prepare your yard for heavy rains. Make sure any leaves in your yard or gutter aren’t blocking the sewer entrance. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear to avoid water backing up into your roof. Keep yard debris away from the drainage spots in your yard. (The builder has put several runoff holes in our yards to divert water away from our yards and homes). Check trees and shrubs to make sure you have no weak branches or branches heavy with leaves overhanging your home. When those branches lose their leaves during the storm, gutter or downspout problems could be created. Store or cover outdoor furniture and umbrellas. Make sure your storage building is waterproof. If you are interested in ways to save rainwater, the Southern
Outdoor furniture should be covered as a precaution against heavy rains.
If you have been waiting to plant your yard, this is a great month to plant trees, shrubs and grass. There will be much fewer insects to contend with and, hopefully, much more natural water via rainwater. Consider slowly reducing your irrigation this month. You can do this by either dialing back your percentage of watering, say from 100 percent to 60 percent on your irrigation controller, or you can manually go into your controller and dial back the amount of time your sprinklers and drip are watering by at least 30 percent. We get nice moisture in the air beginning as early as November, thanks to frost and dew. You will still need to remember to water container plants and plants that are under your eaves. Most of our rains come from the west so the west side of your house may do fine but the other three sides of your home may stay dry. As temperatures drop, you will probably have a lot of debris from trees and shrubs. Keeping the debris on the ground may act as mulch for your plants but it could also be a problem with heavy rains by blocking your French drains. Leaving debris on the ground also leaves areas susceptible to insects and creates places for rodents to hide. Continue to deadhead after flowers have bloomed. Wait to prune plants such as azaleas, camellias, wisteria and lilacs until after they have bloomed. You still may have time to put spring flowering bulbs in the ground. If you are looking for trees that will provide color in your yard, you can choose from Japanese maples, Chinese Pistache, crepe See
Fuchsias are heat tolerant.
GARDEN page 34
Page 20 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
WHEELS OF WOODBRIDGE
Rods, Roadsters and Cruising Cars Car Show Results Article and photos by Bill Barnhart, President & Head Lugnut
Larry and Sandy Molina took Best of Show with their 1958 Chevrolet Impala.
A
ll the Lugnuts of the Wheels of Woodbridge car club would like to thank the residents of Woodbridge for supporting the eighth annual Rods, Roadsters and Cruising Cars car show, October 3. The show was a great success for both the sponsors and for Second Harvest Food Bank, the recipient of all proceeds from the show. Many residents brought their kids and grandkids to the show and everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather and live music by Woodbridge’s own Second Chance Band. There was a line of at least 20 cars by 8 a.m. and they just kept coming throughout the morning. We ended up with 94 cars and it was like a big, friendly, cozy family event. The hot dogs cooked by the Men of Woodbridge on the barbecue trailer donated by Fagundes Meats and Catering were a big hit. The dance music was super, and when the band played “Elvira,” many show participants and spectators got up and did the time-honored line dance to the music. The early arrivals got to chow down on pastries and coffee prepared by the Women of Woodbridge – one thing I’ve learned, these car guys like their sweets and coffee early in the morning. The Best of Show award sponsored by Pulte Homes went to Larry and Sandy Molina for their beautiful 1958 red Chevrolet Impala. Woodbridge resident winners included a Third Place to Don and Marian McClure’s 1954 Chevy Bel Air and Second Place trophies to Horace DiMaggio’s 1941 Chevy Master Delux Coupe, Bill Bolin and Ron Ricci’s 1969 Road Runner, Earl Reedy’s 1957 Thunderbird and Wayne Gordon’s 1949 Ford F1 Pickup.
A show such as ours would not be successful without faithful sponsor support. Every sponsor has supported the car show for multiple years and we owe them a heartfelt thank you. Platinum sponsors were: The Lori’s with PMZ Real Estate, Riverside Management, Pulte Homes/Del Webb, Van Berg & Associates, Valley Custom Karts, Doctors Hospital of Manteca and Steve’s Mobile. Our one Gold sponsor was Tom Thorson Financial from Modesto and our Silver sponsors were: Fran’s Creative Upholstery, Susan Russitano with PMZ Real Estate, Dominic Martos with Farmers Insurance and Security Public Storage. We also want to thank city staff for their years of continued support of the car show in our effort to help the community by fundraising for the food bank. Mayor Steve DeBrum and his wife Veronica were able to make the show before heading to the Pumpkin Fair and Council member Mike Morowit spent quite a while looking over the wide range of classic, muscle and sports cars on display. The show this year brought in, after expenses, approximately $7,500. This makes a total of just under $45,000 the car show has raised for Second Harvest Food Bank to help feed the needy in the Manteca community and surrounding areas over the past six years. Thank you, Woodbridge, for your continued support of this worthwhile purpose.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
Bill Bolin and Ron Ricci's 1969 Road Runner claimed Second Place in Muscle Car category.
Horace DiMaggio's '41 Chevy Master Delux Coupe roared into Second Place in the Hot Rod category.
Don and Marian McClure's 1954 Bel Air Sport Coupe drove away with a Third Place in Classic Modified category.
Page 21 • November 2015
Earl Reedy's 1957 Ford Thunderbird took Second Place in Sports Car category.
Wayne Gordon's 1949 Ford F1 Pickup won Second Place in Truck category.
Second Chance Band performed during the car show.
Page 22 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Softball This Month CAP CONTEST WINNERS FOR OCTOBER By Butch Larson
W
ith the start of the football season, I thought I would throw all of those interested in the cap/logo Contest a curve ball and put in a logo from a football team rather than my usual Minor League cap logo. October’s “mystery” logo belonged to the Barcelona Dragons, originally in the World League of American Football and later resurrected in the NFL Europe League. It is one of my favorite logos of all time. This month’s winners are: Jacque Reynolds, Debby Hickey, Laverne Cortesi, Gerald Inlow and Mel Topping. The home field for the Dragons was Estadi Olimpic de Montjaic - the 1992 Olympic Stadium later named Mini-Estadi. Barcelona made it to four World Bowls (1991, 1997, 1999 and 2001) winning World Bowl V in 1997. After the 2003 season, the team was discontinued and eventually replaced by the Cologne Centurions. The Dragons had only one head coach during their existence, “Cowboy” Jack Bicknell from 1991-2002. Also, Seymour “Red” Klein was the defensive coordinator during these years. Bicknell and Klein had been coaching together since their days at Boston College where they helped the Eagles to a Cotton Bowl Classic victory in 1984. Team colors were dark green, scarlet red, gold and white. Their regular season record was 59-51-0 and their postseason record was 2-4.
Teams in the World/Europe League were: Amsterdam Admirals (95-07), Berlin Thunder (99-07), Birmingham Fire (91 - 92), Centurions (04-07), Frankfurt Galaxy (91, 92, 95-07), Hamburg Sea Devils (0507), London/England Monarchs (91, 92, 95-98), Montreal Machine (91, 92), NY/NJ Knights (91,92), Ohio Glory (92), Orlando Thunder (91-92), Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks (91), Rhein Fire (95-07), Sacramento Surge (91-92), San Antonio Riders (91, 92) and the Scottish Claymores (9504). Alumni included: Jay Gruden (Louisville), John Hardy (Cal), Lindsay Chapman (Cal), Casey Weldon (Florida State), Bryce Burnett (SJ State), Tony Sacca (Penn State), Dante DePaola (Cal), La’Roi Glover (SD State), John Kitna (Central Wash), Kadar Hamilton (Stanford), Toni Graziani (Oregon) and Jarious Jackson (Notre Dame). This was the last logo contest for this year. Thank you for playing along. I hope you enjoyed the challenge and the interesting logos of the Minor Leagues and Barcelona football.
THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT! By Roger Gibson
F
rom all of the players and coaches for the men’s and women’s softball program, I want to express appreciation to all of the people who made this season possible. We could not have enjoyed the pulled muscles, torn ligaments, bruises, broken bones and skinned knees without your encouragement. And we also had a very enjoyable time of play and competition to go along with all of that! The people you see on the playing field are dependent on so many
other people who aren’t in the spotlight but who make it possible for those of us who play to be embarrassed and ridiculed because of our sloppy play. So we say a big thank you to the field crew, the umpires, the Snack Shack workers, the scoreboard and announcing team and especially to the fans who provide the thundering applause, comments and laughter. You are just great for the program! Until next April when we start it all again, thanks for a great season.
ELECTION RESULTS FOR 2016 SOFTBALL COUNCIL By Butch Larson
I
am pleased to announce the following 2016 Woodbridge Senior Softball Club officers: President, Vern Mendes; Field VP, Charm Mathis; Committee VP, Jim Cadle; Secretary, Debby Hickey and Financial Officer, Sue Lough. I would like to thank our Nomination Committee for its work this year in finding an outstanding group of candidates as well as all those who helped with the voting process. I would also like to thank the candidates for stepping up to the plate and being willing to serve the community by being on the council. Some have been players within the program and all have served in other volunteer roles within the
program. Last, but not least, I would like to express my appreciation to those officers going off the council: Karla Hoyer, Charlene Heywood, Al Sanchez and Perry Gibson. These volunteers put in many hours working on the field, keeping records, working in the Snack Shack, attending Disciplinary Committee meetings and attending monthly meetings, in some cases for four or more years. Thank you all very much for your loyalty and support of the WSSC softball program.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
Page 23 • November 2015
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE 2016 SEASON By Butch Larson
H
ave you ever thought about being involved in the Woodbridge softball program as a volunteer?
Field Maintenance – Perry Gibson is stepping down from the council as he has fulfilled his four years as an officer. Perry will continue to manage the field and report to the council through Charm Snack Shack – If we want our Snack Shack to be open Mathis. Perry has done an excellent job of maintaining the field and for the 2016 season, we will need someone to step up and take over would like to have some help with some of the projects that will come the leadership role. Kathy Dezotte has been doing a glorious job of managing and running the Snack Shack since our inception. She would up. Please contact Perry or Charm if you have some interest or any questions. like to take some time off so she can play for the Diamond Gals. We need a manager and workers for next season. If you would like to find Umpiring – Roland Roelling has done a great job and will return out about what all is involved, please contact Kathy. She will be glad to to manage the umpiring program. He has spent many hours training share her thoughts with you. our current group of umpires and would love to have some additional Scorebooth – Joanne Norcup did a great job of stepping into the role folks step up. Whether you have experience or not, Roland will get you up to speed and work with you so that you feel comfortable with the of supervisor this season. There were many new faces and they did a great job. We will need someone to step up into the supervisor role next rules and our approach. Please contact Roland if interested or with any questions. season and probably will need someone to fill other positions as well: scoreboard operation, scorebook maintenance, sound/music operation and announcing. Please talk with Debby Hickey if you are interested or have any questions about the duties.
WOLVERINES ARE SUCCESSFUL AT NORTHGATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT By Bob Perrin and Butch Larson
T
he mighty Wolverines almost won the Northgate Tournament recently but did achieve another second place finish for the second tournament in a row, despite having an identical winloss record with another team in the tournament. In game number one versus the Raptors, the Wolverines won a close one, 15-14. In game number two against the California Wrecking Crew, they lost a close one, 14-15. Game three versus Porterville was on Sunday and the Wolverines won by forfeit. Their next game on Sunday (game four) found them back to their winning ways with an 18-16 score against the Redwood City Blues. Their last tournament game was against the Goodfellas which they routed in a five-inning game, 30-17. The Wolverines outscored their opponents head to head by 76-64. The Wrecking Crew’s head to head total score was 76-68. So, even though the Wolverines had the best overall scores, they lost in their head to head game against the Wrecking Crew and were assigned second place. This has been the best two-tournament stretch for the Wolverines in their history. Great job, guys! Keep up the strong play.
Page 24 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE SOFTBALL SNACK BAR’S MANY VOLUNTEERS By Karla Hoyer
T
he Snack Bar opened at Woodbridge with the help of Charlene Haywood, Jerry Monares, Craig Hoyer and me. We shopped weekly to keep the Snack Bar well supplied. We cooked hamburgers and hot dogs to sell along with chips and soft drinks, then cleaned and planned for the next opening. A special thank you goes to Kaye and Al Sanchez for their donation of a large barbecue grill to the softball league, which enabled us to save money. The Snack Bar used this grill for five years before purchasing a new one last year.
and cater to all of our customers to the best of our ability.
Pulte donated $250 to help the Snack Bar get started and they put on a wonderful grand opening of the new softball field for all residents to enjoy. The softball club worked with Dodie Miller who helped us coordinate all of the ins and outs of starting a new club at Woodbridge. Dodie’s help has been invaluable for the last seven years and she was instrumental in helping softball become a charter club as well as in scheduling dates and rooms for meetings and special events and overseeing finances.
I am going to miss working with the Snack Bar workers. They have brought their laughter and love of life with them each and every day. The following are our special crew: Jacqueline Andrews, Sandi Bosse, Jane Kerr, Rosemary Hein, Judy Goodnow and Sharon Fields. These fantastic ladies work tirelessly. They greet everyone with a smile and make them feel important. Addie Perrin is our youngest helper and is very eager to put on safety gloves and help make salads. Addie is the five-year-old granddaughter of Bob and Karen Perrin and attends kindergarten but still tries to come every chance she gets. Addie entertains the staff with her many funny stories.
In the Snack Bar’s third season, we were fortunate to get Kathy Dezotte to join us to coordinate the Snack Bar and work twice a week for the next several years. Kathy helped in prepping, cleaning and purchasing doughnuts each day before the Snack Bar opened. Kathy helped find volunteers to staff the Snack Bar to free up some time for Charlene and me. New volunteers aided Kathy in prepping, cleaning and selling. Kathy always made sure to buy special doughnuts requested by some customers. Over the years, the menu grew with the addition of taco salads, grilled chicken salads and various other items. We have always joked in the Snack Bar that, “This isn’t Burger King and you can’t have it your way,” when, in fact, we have always tried to please
I can’t thank the wonderful friends and neighbors (aka customers) enough for their years of support to the Snack Bar and the softball league. This has been a great success because of all of our wonderful customers. We are lucky to be able to serve the Woodbridge staff from time to time as well as the Pulte sales staff and GP landscapers. One of our most loyal customers is George Moffatt who attends every day the Snack Bar is open to buy his favorite, a maple bar, while he watches the games being played.
I would like to sign off by saying, “Thanks for the memories and all of the laughs and friendships that have been made out on the softball field. I wish the best of luck to the incoming softball board and know that you will thrive and enjoy your terms. I am planning to be a fan and watch my husband play a whole game for the first time in seven years. I have stayed true to form and still love shopping for clothes and jewelry for my work in the Snack Bar.”
SPONSOR HIGHLIGHT: ENVIRONMENTAL CREATIONS LANDSCAPING
E
By John Bauer
nvironmental Creations (EC) is one of the premier landscape designers serving Woodbridge for both front and back yards. They have designed and installed more than 200 projects in our community since it opened in 2007. Owner Ben Sanchez’s crew will work with you during the design phase to ensure you get the landscape you want at a competitive price. EC has an excellent relationship with the Woodbridge Architectural Review Committee, regularly appearing with clients for the necessary ARC approval. Ben knows the process and rules so there will be no surprises or disappointments for the homeowner. Whether you have just moved in or have lived here for many years, Environmental Creations can design or redesign front yard landscaping to please the most discriminating homeowner. They can add a courtyard to enjoy new outdoor living space and/or improve or replace walkwayswith natural stone or stamped concrete. Drive around Woodbridge and check Ben’s work or call him at 209-604-5021 for a free estimate and consultation. You can also look at his work online at www.landscapingbyben.com. Ben’s first job was for the city of Waterford Parks and Recreation
at the young age of 13. Throughout his teenage years, he worked with his father in landscaping. At the age of 20, he worked for two landscape companies while attending classes at Modesto Junior College (MJC). At his second landscape company, Ben started as an irrigation repairman and worked his way up to management. At MJC he studied Business & Environmental Horticulture. Ben started Environmental Creations with nothing but ambition in 2003. In 2007 he started working with Woodbridge residents and has completed hundreds of projects for us. Ben is appreciative of all his clients in Woodbridge and recognizes that without this community his business might not have survived the recession. Ben is married to Senobia and they have a six-year-old son, Benjamin Jr., who is involved with tee-ball and other sports. Ben and Senobia sponsor events and volunteer at their son’s school on a regular basis. We appreciate Ben’s sponsorship support for our softball program and look forward to his support in the future. Please thank Ben the next time you see him working so diligently in our community.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
Page 25 • November 2015
Pickleball Corner By Marcia Umberger
T
welve members participated in the September Woodbridge Pickleball group round-robin playday. They each played five games against a variety of opponents. The weather cooperated nicely, although smoke was in the air. In the end, the two men and two women who won the most games played in a mixeddoubles championship game. Barbara Shapiro and Dick Juarez squared off against Pat Fidler and Steve Oliver. After a hard-fought game, Pat and Steve emerged as the champions. All who came out to play said it was a fun morning. For new residents who don’t know what “pickleball” is, come out to the courts any morning between 8:30 and 11 to see for yourself how much fun we are having. It is a court game played with a paddle and a Wiffle-type ball. If you would like some lessons and/or pointers, call Joe Victoria at 815-9343 to set up a time. He is generally available Thursdays at 10 a.m. but it is best to check with him in advance. The pickleball players are a very friendly group and welcome new members at any time. Just stop by and we will explain the game to you.
Photo contributed.
Twelve pickleball members competed in the group's round-robin playday.
Pulte/Villara Aluminum Line-Set Recap By Bill Barnhart
P
ulte Homes and Villara (formerly known as Beutler) representatives came to Woodbridge on October 2 to have a serious discussion with residents about the ins and outs of aluminum line-sets in the air conditioning systems of many homes throughout the community. Some residents have spent several hundred dollars out-of-pocket for recharging Freon® and other residents have spent several thousands of dollars to replace components, a more permanent fix. Although multiple representatives from both companies were present, Carl Hansen from Pulte and Bob Radcliff from Villara were the main presenters. Bob, who had been a service technician for more than 15 years on multiple manufacturers’ units and is now in engineering, was the first in Beutler/Villara to investigate the use of aluminum line-sets and what was required to braze aluminum to copper. Bob’s investigation led to an Arizona company that had perfected a technique requiring a certain kind of flux combined with a lower heat than normally used which then opens a three-second window of opportunity to solder the joint together. Too little heat and the solder won’t stick; too much heat and the aluminum becomes brittle. Several test lines were put together and pressurized before sending them to a facility in Texas where they were tested under conditions simulating being out-ofdoors for 10 years, including the use of salt spray. The tested lines all passed without any leakage. When there is a suspected leak in your air conditioning system, a complete test needs to be made during cooler weather. The testing process requires your system to be out of service between two and four weeks. The test would isolate the three major components: air
conditioning unit in attic, line-set and condenser outside the home and performance of a pressure test on each to determine where the leak is. Both Pulte and Villara representatives stated, “Any kind of leak is unacceptable.” Further, both representatives indicated that when a leak is discovered or reported during the builder’s warranty period, the service call remains open on the builder’s records until resolved, even if it extends beyond the warranty period. The Villara representative extended an offer to train any local private A/C maintenance people at Villara’s facilities in Sacramento on the proper technique for brazing this type of joint. We were also informed that the company currently installing the systems in new homes at Woodbridge is using copper line-sets simply because they do not have experience using aluminum like Villara does. To report an A/C problem, homeowners may initiate a service request on the Pulte website or they may send an email to NORCAL@ Pulte.com. Include your name, address, date you closed escrow and any historical information if you’ve had to have previous work done to your system other than standard maintenance. Warranty for the first year is through the builder, Pulte Homes. Then the manufacturer warranty kicks in for full parts and labor for one more year. After that, the manufacturer warranty for parts is five years, extended to 10 years for certain components if the unit is registered with the manufacturer. For service after the builder warranty, service can be requested directly through Villara at www.Villara.com.
Page 26 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
MEN OF WOODBRIDGE CHILI BAKE WBL photo by Dreanna Langdon
GOLF
Submitted by Dodie Miller
Results of the putting tournament held September 19, 2015.
LADIES:
In late September, the Men of Woodbridge served a chili and baked potato dinner to raise money for the Haven of Peace’s “Kiddie Room.”
ELVIS LIVE WBL photos by Dreanna Langdon
1. Terry Cummings 2. Shirley Lopes 3. Margaret Kimura 4. Jackie Rudy 5. Genie Sherrill 6. Joanne Norcup 7. Robin Blevins 8. Cheryl Turner 9. Barbara Tandy 10. Sue Price 11. Nina Wedlake 12. Lynette Norcup 13. Karan Plummer
43 44 44 45 47 47 48 50 51 51 51 52 52
MEN: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. HM
Ben Kimura Mike Sherrill Ray Foxworth Mike Wedlake Craig Hoyer Carl Cummings Dick Turner Mike Zocchi Bill Norcup Robin Adams Larry Evans Art Blevins Garry Kerr Jerry Just
37 38 39 42 43 43 44 44 44 44 44 45 45 45
LADIES CLOSEST TO THE HOLE: 1. Margaret Kimura 2. Genie Sherrill
3' 9" 4'6"
MEN CLOSEST TO THE HOLE: 1. Art Blevins
2. Robin Adams
Close up of Elvis' ornamental cape.
Elvis fan Joyce Graham.
3'
3'9"
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
WOODBRIDGE SENIOR GOLF CLUB By Charles Gary
T
he 2015 Woodbridge Senior Golf club has finished its regular season with the last scoring tournament for the cups occurring at the Dry Creek Golf and Country Club. It was a great day for golf and the WSGC members took advantage of it with their last effort to capture one of the two championships for the year. Up for grabs were the Woodbridge Cup for best play over the season and the Putting Trophy for least putts taken during the year. Before revealing the winner for this year, here is a summary of the results for the tournament at the Dry Creek Golf and Country Club. Each player plays with his Northern California Golf Association Handicap, which levels the playing field between the lowest and highest scoring averages. Rudy Salvador won the tournament with a net score of 66. Dan Pangilinan garnered second place with a net score of 71 and Roy Rea took third with a 72. The putting winner for the tournament was Bob Hamilton who took 29 putts during 18 holes of play. Rudy Salvador tied with Roy Rea for second with 31 putts and Dan Pangilinan, Mark Gattuso and Dan Theal tied for third with 32 putts each. Bob Hamilton achieved the lowest stroke play with a blistering 79. David Raxter was second lowest with an 89 and Rudy Salvador followed with a 90. The Woodbridge Senior Golf Club sponsored eight tournaments this year for members and their guests. Four members participated in every tournament. Players earned points at each tournament depending on their finish. The winner of each tournament earned 200 points toward the Woodbridge Cup. Each participant earned at least 10 points. This year’s winner of the Woodbridge Cup is once again Rudy Salvador who finished with 740 points. David Raxter was second with 690 points and Bob Hamilton third with 590 points. The 2015 putting champ is Bob Hamilton who earned 860 points. John Armstrong was runner-up with 730 points and David Raxter followed with 590 points. Residents of the Woodbridge community are encouraged to join us for the 2016 season, currently in the planning stages. Dues for 2016 are due by November 30. Current Northern California Golf Association (NCGA) members must re-up.
AUTUMN DANCE WITH DJ DAVE BADILLA WBL photo by Dreanna Langdon
Shirley Smith dances with friend and soon-to-be Woodbridge resident Fritz Lehnhardt.
Page 27 • November 2015
Page 28 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Triker's Travels Article by Judy McNamara and WBL photos by Volker Moerbitz
Kathy and Steve Howe — The Best of the Mantecans
W
ho knows Manteca better than Kathy and Steve Howe? They were both born and raised in Manteca and met while at Manteca High School. Their lives read like a real love story! They were high school sweethearts and both went to San Diego State University before coming back to continue their lives in Manteca where it all began. They married in 1977. What finer way to give back to a community than to return to their hometown and begin their teaching careers? Steve received his teaching credential and master’s degree in counseling and taught for 12 years at John R. Williams Elementary School in Stockton before becoming an elementary school counselor in Manteca. He next spent 16 years as a career counselor, mostly at Sierra High School in Manteca. He retired in 2011. Kathy retired in 2013 after having taught second and third grades at Neil Hafley and New Haven elementary schools for 35 years. The couple has two daughters who have continued the legacy of living in the area, one in Manteca and one in Escalon. They also have a three-year-old granddaughter. After moving to Woodbridge, Steve and Kathy immediately became involved in many of the opportunities offered here. Steve is an active member of the Woodbridge Singers, plays on the White Knights softball team, plays chair volleyball, golfs and rides a motorcycle. Steve loves to dance and can be seen at many of the dances rockin' out for the entertainment of the attendees.
Kathy is involved in book club and watches their three-year-old granddaughter once a week. Besides their activities here, in 2006 Steve and Kathy started a website about wine (cheers2wine. com). It is a comprehensive guide to the California Wine Country, which gives information about wineries throughout California. They recommend restaurants, places to stay and fun things to do. Visitors to their website can print free wine tasting coupons. Ever true to her educational profession, Kathy applied for the vacant Area 2 seat on the Manteca Unified School District board and was interviewed along with other applicants. The seat will ultimately be filled by a general election in November 2016. Always upbeat and fun, with outgoing personalities and filled with enthusiasm, Kathy and Steve are a joy to be around.
Judy McNamara
Steve and Kathy Howe, high school sweethearts, are a joy to be around.
UPDATE
"I'm just a wild and crazy guy"... Steve Martin or Steve Howe?
Congratulations, Kathy, on being appointed to the vacant seat on the Manteca Unified School District Board of Education! The decision was made at the October board meeting. Kathy competed against three other applicants. Her 15-month appointment to the vacant seat includes serving the communities of Manteca, Lathrop, French Camp and Weston Ranch. With her more than 30 years of teaching in Manteca, her love of children and teaching and her enthusiasm, we wish Kathy the very best and know she will be successful in this important position.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
RAAN MONITORS AIR QUALITY
WALK-A-THON FOR BREAST CANCER
Submitted by Mike Spence
WBL photo by Dreanna Langdon
T
he San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District operates an extensive air quality monitoring system. They have monitoring stations at most public schools, including nearby East Union High School. The new Real-Time Air Advisory Network (RAAN) system allows the general public to receive timely notification(s) when ozone and fine particulate matter levels become elevated. The notifications come as emails to your personal computer and/or smart phone. The system uses a number scale from 1 (Good) to 5 (Very Unhealthy) to report conditions in the notifications. If you would like more information on the RAAN system, use this link: http//www. valleyair.org/Programs/RAAN.raan_monitoring If you would like to receive RAAN alert emails, use this link: http//www.valleyair.org/ Programs/RAAN/raan_register.html
Sixty-five residents raised $1,539 for the American Cancer Society.
Page 29 • November 2015
Page 30 • November 2015
MARTHA LIVING
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
H A R M A N
By Debby Hickey
M
y neighbor two doors down, Martha, knocked on my door one day and said she needed 10 minutes. She had a small drill in one hand and a “surprise” in the other. I watched with amazement as she installed a magnetic door holder in the laundry room door, so when I would bring bags in from the car, the door would stay open! Another time, we went for a golf cart ride one wintry day, and Martha noticed that there was airflow at the bottom of the window. (Even though I had a cover on the cart, it was still getting cold inside it.) She came back to my house, said she needed something from my garage, then left. (I didn’t know she brought a measuring tape and a swatch of fabric to compare to my cover color.) Thirty minutes later, she’s back again with a handmade cozy (filled with rice) to rest on the small dash and block the air! It’s Martha’s nature to be so thoughtful.
The following year Martha won the “Hobo Contest” at a Woodbridge event. Guess she paid attention to my “knowledge.”
She set up an assembly line at her house one November day, so that the women on our block could crank out 10 dozen holiday cookies for the upcoming boutique and bake sale. Not just simple cookies. No, no. These were fancy gingerbread men, sandwich cookies and frosted sugar cookies! Each cookie had to be carefully crafted, using her direction and any creativity we had! Afterward, we each received a “Martha original” apron and ornament.
Martha and Rick came over one day to help me fix a caster on my ottoman and tried not to laugh at my cheap ugly toolbox. I lamented that years ago I asked my best friend for a pretty pink toolbox for Christmas and was told she couldn’t find any, except this plastic red and black one! So, a few months later, I opened my Christmas gift from the Harmans, and it was a beautiful maroon and pink tool bag/box, with every tool and attachment also maroon-colored!
Martha Harman has several Certificates of Award---Cake Decorating and Baking Technology are only a couple. She worked many years in a bakery. When we bake together, she tells me why adding the flour in sequence is important…what? Needless to say, I’ve learned a lot from her!
When she’s not setting up the Shadow Berry Girls’ luncheons or attending various association meetings, you’ll find Martha either teaching crafts classes (fabric and cording baskets, hot pads, pin cushions, tote bags, poinsettia pillows, etc.) or volunteering to make dog beds, cancer pillows and prayer bears, or simply playing bocce ball.
It’s like living with Martha Stewart on our block; she is so creative and inventive. Martha and her husband Rick noticed that a local rock store rockery had a bin offering free pieces of flagstone too small to sell. Martha designed a backyard patio and they kept going back and emptying that bin!
We are so blessed to have such a creative and caring neighbor.
With both of us being inherent organizers, we dropped in unannounced to another neighbor’s house and said we were going to clean out her walk-in closet! Eight bags of donated clothes later, we high-fived on the way out and noticed a cluttered crafts room! (We did the same “drop-in” a few weeks later for that!) I’ve seen Martha go to a neighbor’s backyard with yard tools and reemerge with a bag of weeds and a big grin! We share leftovers and baked goods a lot (and the block gets to be guinea pigs with her new recipes), but it’s not totally one-sided. Martha called me one day, asking if I had any gold garland as she was working on an “ugly sweater” for a contest to be held at a Christmas party that night. As I arrived, she was carefully measuring reindeer buttons on the front of the sweater. I stared at her in disbelief and then said, “If someone needed a wedding cake, they would call a professional cake decorator. So for a project like this, you need someone who is tacky, gaudy and has absolutely no taste or class…ME! Step aside!” So we spent the next two hours working on that sweater. (I would often catch her mortified expression out of the corner of my eye each time I added some décor!) She called me later that night exclaiming happily, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I won!”
WBL photos by Dreanna Langdon.
Martha uses the Dremel tool to cut, shape or grind projects.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
ROMMEL RECOMMENDS: Delicato Family Vineyards Article and photo by Rommel Parseh
D
elicato Family Vineyards is a local Manteca winery about four miles away from Woodbridge. Unlike most wineries, Delicato does not charge for wine tasting and they are very flexible about giving samples of wines such as port and sparkling wines not on their tasting list. Delicato carries nice gifts for different occasions in the gift shop adjacent to the tasting area. They have two types of club membership. Caterina Club members receive two to three selected wines six times a year and Gaspare Club members receive four to six selected wines four times a year. Each membership has pick-up or delivery options. Membership provides discounts on purchase of wines and gifts. The winery is located at 12001 S. Highway 99 in Manteca and tasting room hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, their website is www.dfvtastingroom.com.
Woodbridge LIFE
Page 31 • November 2015
Page 32 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
WINE 101 By Jon Ford
W
D E D U NCL
CO
CO
D E D U NCL
e've sure been having a great time at the Wine 101 classes. A big thank you to all the presenters who assisted us in learning more about wines and the wine industry in 2015. We have plans for more visitations in 2016. In our October class, we explored the wines of Washington state. In November, a full bus will be heading to Lodi to visit Durst and Macchia wineries where we will be greeted by the owners to sample some of the wines the Lodi region has to offer and have the opportunity to purchase said wines at a discount. Sounds like a winwin to me. Sign-ups for our December "Christmas Potluck and Bottle Exchange," Wednesday, December 9, begin November 5. Note that this class starts at the earlier time of 5:30 p.m. due to the nature of the event. (Our normal start time is 6 p.m.) This is always a wellattended and fun get together, so sign up quickly. When you sign up for this event, you will be notified whether you should bring a salad, entree or dessert that feeds 10 people. I've decided to expand the December class to a maximum of 104 people, eight more than last year. We've also expanded our regular classes to 120 people from 101. Plans are in the works for a potential of offering the same class on two different evenings each month in the latter part of next year. The only exceptions will be when we have guest presenters where we will only be able to offer one class in the month. All Woodbridge residents are invited to Wine 101 classes. No knowledge of wine is necessary to attend. We have first time wine drinkers to sommeliers attending. The common core of the class is that we have a heck of a lot of fun. Attendees are asked to bring their own wineglasses, an appetizer to share with the group (the exception being in December), and a wine relevant to the event to be placed on the community table for sharing. (It is asked that you uncork and re-cork your bottle for convenience). In addition, you may also bring another wine to share with your table as well. Our general class format is to conduct the educational portion of the event followed by our great parties. If you want to have a great time, learn about wine, see your neighbors, and make new friends, then this is the class for you. If you wish to be notified of Wine 101 events on a regular basis, you may email me at jluvswine@aol.com and I'll be happy to add you to the group’s mailing list. The only thing is you also have to put up with other educational tidbits that I send out on occasion. You can also get word of the classes via flyers in the Clubhouse and on the Woodbridge portal. The timeliest postings, however, are in the group’s newsletter. If all falls into place for 2016, we should be having more great times next year. It’s hard to believe that January marks our fifth year of the class! SO MANY WINES, SO LITTLE TIME!
www.ourwoodbridge.net From
Woodbridge LIFE
RV page 14
the “jammers” (drivers) to do the work while you take in the splendor. Having been to Glacier before, I was sad that those who had not were unable to see the amazing beauty of this park because of the smoke. Heading toward home, we stopped at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Ellensburg, Washington, and Woodburn, Oregon. Our last hurrah was a jet boat ride on the Rogue River in Grants Pass, Oregon. It was a pretty chilly morning so our driver took pity on us and we had a mellow ride to our lunch spot destination. Along the way we saw many bald eagles and osprey. After a delicious lunch, we boarded the boat to make our way back. Since it had warmed up, our driver, Johnny, decided he would treat us to “shake and bake,” also known as 360s. Those of us smart enough to sit in the middle of the boat were able to stay fairly dry. Those on the outside were not so lucky. We had a blast and it was a highlight of our trip. After almost four weeks, visiting six states and traveling about 3,500 miles, the Woodbridge 55ers returned home with many photos and stories to share. They are already talking about next year’s trip– Colorado, Utah or Canada? Planning will begin after the first of the year. Wherever the 55ers decide to venture, you can guarantee it will be another fun-filled adventure with a wonderful bunch of Woodbridge friends!
Flyer developed and distributed by the Woodbridge Lifestyle Committee.
If you are interested in joining the Woodbridge 55er's RV Group, contact Sue Edmiston at 601-9210 or suedmiston@verizon.net.
Page 33 • November 2015
Page 34 • November 2015 From
GARDEN page 19
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
myrtles, eastern redbud, Hawthorne and Gingko. Remember to water new trees frequently as they are adapting to their new environment.
to grow again in the spring, continue pinching the ends of each branch to encourage bushiness and multiple blossoms. Chrysanthemums are hardy in our area.
One very attractive flowering shrub is the camellia sasanqua. They are very tolerant of our weather in the Central Valley and are great performers in the months of October through December when not much else is blooming. Their seedpods are decorative and look great in a bowl of potpourri.
Frost is around the corner. After more than eight years of living here, I have decided I don’t have the time to baby plants and keep them from frost damage. The best thing you can do for your plants is to water them prior to the frost, put small twinkly lights on plants that are susceptible to frost or spray a frost inhibitor on the plant. If you cover the plant, do not use a piece of plastic that settles on the plant. That will cause the plant to burn where the plastic is resting. There are frost blankets now that can stay on the plant and will actually warm the plant during the day. You will need to trap the heat from the ground as you cover the plant.
It’s been said that planting bedding plants in November will give you a stronger plant than if you wait to plant in the spring. Bedding plants for November would include primrose, cyclamen, coral-bells, snap dragon, dianthus and nemesia. You can start to shorten the length of your grass mowing now. We normally mow our lawns a little higher in the summer so as to slow down the moisture loss but in the winter it’s better to mow it a little shorter. Now is still a good time to plant your winter garden with sweet peas, broccoli, onions, potatoes, cauliflower, radishes, Swiss chard and lettuce. Sweet peas are a great winter vegetable for a trellis. Your lawn can benefit from a fertilizer feeding this month. You can still divide your perennials such as daylily and Shasta daisies, primrose and agapanthus. Do not cut fuchsias back. Allow the seed pods to stay on the plant so it will go into dormancy. Prune after the threat of frost is over. If you purchase a chrysanthemum at the store, it’s probably a hardy chrysanthemum. You may put it in the ground outdoors after the blooms have fallen off as long as it’s in well-drained soil and gets at least six hours of sunlight daily. Prune them back a little after the flowers have died and when they start
You will start finding amaryllis for holiday gift-giving in nurseries this month. I always go to Duarte’s nursery in Hughson and purchase a couple of their special colored poinsettias. They offer polka dot, striped, coral, red, rose form, white, peach – the selection is amazing! The best time to go is right before or right after Thanksgiving as most of the local garden clubs descend on the place and the selection of plants narrows drastically after that. They also offer great dish gardens and multi-plant arrangements. The San Joaquin Master Gardeners club is having a seminar entitled “Houseplants Made Easy,” Saturday, November 21, at 10:30 a.m. in the McFall Room of the Manteca Public Library. Classes are over at noon. To guarantee enough materials for the class, please register a week in advance by calling 209-9536100.
Where in the world ?
Dan and Marilyn Armstrong and Jon and Debi Ford took a trip to England, Scotland and Ireland.
H
appy gardening!
Wow! Woodbridge LIFE has been circling the globe with our wandering residents! We will do our best to include ALL travel photographs, but space and clarity will dictate. Preference will go to those not featured in previous editions and, yes, to those in exotic locales and interesting photo ops! Send images electronically to wblife2012@gmail. com using high resolution or actual size. Thank you for your contributions. We're happy that you continue to enjoy Woodbridge LIFE. If your picture isn't here, look for it in the coming months and keep sending them in! Sorry, we can no longer accept print photos.
George and Carolyn Johnson visited the Peace Bridge in Northern Ireland.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
Page 35 • November 2015
TURKEYS By Mike Spence, using sources including the University of Illinois, History of U.K., USDA, M.I.T. and the National Wild Turkey Federation
T
he turkey (the fowl not the country) is native to North America. Wild turkeys range from Maine and Montreal in the north to Guatemala on the south. Turkeys favor warmer climates so it is not surprising that the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) most recent population density reports show that most U.S. sightings are in Texas and Florida. Through conservation efforts, the NWTF has helped the turkey’s population recover from a low of 1.5M in 1973 to 7M today. How the turkey got its name is up for grabs and speculation. One theory is that Columbus or some other early explorer thought the turkey was a guinea fowl which was common in the section of the Ottoman Empire known as Turkey. There’s also the one where Columbus was actually lost when he arrived in North America and believed he was in India. He mistook the turkey for a peacock and called it by the Indian (the country) name for a peacock –”tuka.” Another theory holds that the name turkey came from one Native American language that called the bird a “firkee.” The exact origin of the name is lost to history. It appears that the Spanish brought turkeys to Europe as early as 1521, where they were domesticated. Domesticated turkeys arrived in England about 1524. Turkeys, along with chickens, were then a rich man’s fare. The turkey flourished and “turkey merchants” began setting up turkey farms in Norfolk, 80 miles outside London. There was an odor problem associated with the raising of turkeys. Because
of their high price, they were destined for the winter feasts (now Christmas) of rich Londoners. In late October of each year, turkey merchants herded their birds to London. Each bird was fitted with leather booties to protect its feet. The mind’s eye conjures this turkey herding as something like a combination of a modern cattle drive and herding cats. After the 80-mile trek, the birds were given time to regain lost weight just before the feasting. By the Victorian age in the 1800s, the turkey was taking its place on the royal Christmas dinner table, only outshone by the roasted royal swans. Why do we get sleepy after a turkey dinner? Everyone wants to blame the turkey, but that may not be the case. A really nice lady, Judith Wurtman, got her Ph.D. in nutritional biochemistry and landed a neat job at MIT’s Clinical Research Center about 20 years ago. She has some thoughts on turkey dinner sleepiness. Sure, turkey has tryptophan that causes our bodies to create more melatonin that helps control our mood and alertness. The problem is that turkey has about the same level of tryptophan as beef, eggs and cottage cheese. Could it be the binge eating of high-fat and high-carbohydrate foods we associate with a “big” turkey meal that causes us to become sleepy? Perhaps it’s the elevated insulin levels that make us sleepy? Could that glass or two of wine contribute to the problem? Wurtman jokingly summarizes that a big turkey dinner day in the U.S. is a “national eating disorder day”.
Page 36 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
TO YOUR HEALTH
Tips & Information for a Healthier Heart Dr. Harpreet Parmar, Cardiologist
Doctors Hospital Forum, November 12, 2015, 9:30 a.m. Submitted by Kelly Carpo, Coordinator Business Development and Marketing, Doctors Hospital Manteca
Topics will include the risk factors of cardiovascular disease, the causes and different types of heart disease, disease prevention and treatment and tips on how to stay well and keep your heart healthy Dr. Parmar is a native of Lodi. He completed his undergraduate work at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and his M.D at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He completed an Internal Medicine Residency, Cardiology Fellowship and Interventional Fellowship at Aurora St. Luke’s and Sinai Medical Centers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Parmar served as Chief Resident in the Internal Medicine program as well as Chief Fellow in both the Cardiology and Interventional Fellowships. He was awarded Internal Medicine Resident of
the Year and Cardiology Fellow of the Year during his training. He joined Stockton Cardiology Group in 2015. Dr. Parmar’s clinical interests include heart disease prevention, coronary artery disease, and interventional cardiology while providing comprehensive and compassionate care. Dr. Parmar’s specialized training includes both peripheral and coronary arterial disease with emphasis on structural heart disease including transcatheter aortic valve replacement and endovascular repair. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, board eligible in Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology with additional level II training in Nuclear Cardiology, Echocardiography and Cardiac CT.
www.ourwoodbridge.net
Woodbridge LIFE
Page 37 • November 2015
Our Second Annual
y r o t c e r i D y Communit
Cover Contest!
Woodbridge residents are known for their multitude of talents. All are invited to take part in this contest by submitting artwork representing “the Woodbridge lifestyle.” The actual entry will be in photograph form but the artwork may be of any type and media.
Top photos will be selected by the Woodbridge LIFE Editorial Team then a panel of outside judges will select the winner to be used as artwork on the cover of next year’s directory.
Participation Requirements: All contest entrants must reside within the Woodbridge by Del Webb community in Manteca, California. Residence will be verified.
Community Directory or published in Woodbridge LIFE newspaper. 3. Entrants may submit more than one entry photograph. 4. Submit entry photograph(s) on a thumb drive.
Art Requirements: 1. Artwork for the cover of the community directory must clearly
represent “the Woodbridge lifestyle.”
2. Artwork may depict people, places or things and may be created
in any art media type such as: painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, architecture, carving and textiles.
3. If photography is the artist’s art media, photos MUST be taken
within the Woodbridge by Del Webb community in Manteca, CA. Location will be verified.
5. Place the thumb drive in an envelope upon which is written the
contestant’s full name, residence address, phone number, and email address.
6. Submit the sealed envelope containing the thumb drive to the
front desk of the Lakeview Clubhouse.
7. Thumb drives will not be returned. 8. Woodbridge LIFE is not responsible for entry photographs
or materials sent in. Be sure to save copies of your entry photograph(s).
9. Woodbridge LIFE will not sell or otherwise use the photographs
Entry Requirements: 1. A photograph of the actual artwork must be submitted as an entry
to this contest.
2. Photo resolution must be at least 300 dots per inch (dpi). Use a
minimum of a 4-mega pixel camera.
3. Color or black and white photos will be accepted. 4. Photos must be oriented to fit the Woodbridge Community
Directory cover (preferably 5 ½” high x 8 ½” wide unless artwork is more effectively photographed in vertical format).
5. Only single photographs will be accepted. Collages will not be
accepted.
6. Photographs must be submitted as digital files only. Digital file
format must be JPEG or TIFF.
7. Each entry photograph must have an identifying caption/name to
differentiate it from other entries in this contest and to refer to it, when necessary. Examples, “The sun setting over Lakeview Clubhouse,” OR “Sunset.”
Contest Rules: 1. All entry photographs submitted for this contest become the
property of Woodbridge LIFE.
2. By submitting an entry for this contest, the contest entrant
agrees s/he will not be compensated in any way if his/her entry photograph is selected for use on the cover of the 2016 Woodbridge
submitted for this contest except as previously stated.
Deadlines: All submissions must be received at the front desk of the Clubhouse no later than 5 p.m., December 31, 2015. Submissions received after this time and date will not be accepted.
Judging: 1. All entry photographs submitted in the contest will be reviewed. Representatives of the Woodbridge LIFE Editorial Team will select the top photos. 2. The winning photo will be selected from the top entry photographs by a panel of outside judges. 3. All decisions of the judges are final. Prizes: 1. The winning entry photograph will be used as artwork on the cover of the 2016 Woodbridge Community Directory. The winning entrant’s name will be printed on the directory cover with the photo of his/her artwork. 2. The winner, two runners up, and a list of names of all contest entrants will be published in Woodbridge LIFE newspaper.
Page 38 • November 2015
Woodbridge LIFE
www.ourwoodbridge.net
1. Carla Marquardt visited Rome, Florence and the Italian Rivera in September
Where in the world ?
with 30 friends from Milwaukee.
2. Bob and Carol Radke enjoyed the Lindos Acropolis at Rhodes, Greece. 3. Susan DeMontigney and Robert Burnam toured New England and enjoyed the fall colors.
Wow! Woodbridge LIFE has been circling the globe with our wandering residents! We will do our best to include ALL travel photographs, but space and clarity will dictate. Preference will go to those not featured in previous editions and, yes, to those in exotic locales and interesting photo ops! Send images electronically to wblife2012@gmail.com using high resolution or actual size. Thank you for your contributions. We're happy that you continue to enjoy Woodbridge LIFE. If your picture isn't here, look for it in the coming months and keep sending them in! Sorry, we can no longer accept print photos.
1
4. Sailing onboard the Golden Princess in Glacier Bay, Alaska, were Bob Hall, Albert and Margaret Low, Jack and Penny Dauler, Dave Steffy, Jeanne Hall with her wonder dog Tommy, Marian and Don McClure and Jacquie Steffy. 5. A group of Woodbridge ladies got together to see the Thunder from Down Under (a male dance group from Australia) at the Gallo Center for the Arts.
2
3
4
5
Send travel photos to WBLIFE2012@gmail.com
Please use highest resolution and type WB TRAVEL in the subject line. All travel photos MUST be submitted electronically.